ISML 2020: Topaz Swings In Style
By Jo-Ryan Salazar
The Bedlam On Baltic Avenue
September 9, 2020
Match Day 1 of the 2020 International Saimoe League Topaz Period is in the books. In the Female Division, Mashiro Shiina routed Madoka Kaname 2343-1273, Index Prohibitorum defeated Tooru 2115-1704, Ai Hayasaka eased past Kaori Miyazono 2108-1507, Misaki Shokuhou rolled past Mei Misaki 2260-1567, Yui Yuigahama hammered Haruhi Suzumiya 2197-1467, Miku Nakano flew past Jibril 1992-1462, Utaha Kasumigaoka prevailed over Mirai Kuriyama 1799-1642 and Kaguya Shinomiya drove past Ai Haibara 2604-1360.
Rin Tohsaka defeated Takagi 2389-1526, Mai Sakurajima thumped Mikasa Ackerman 2475-1277, Sagiri Izumi stormed past Kumiko Oumae 2214-1403, Iroha Isshiki defeated Ram 2004-1625, Nao Tomori took down Kaede Azusagawa 1894-1553, Mio Akiyama scorched Kei Karuizawa 2006-1446, Eriri Spencer Sawamura roared past Taiga Aisaka 1886-1641 and Asuna Yuuki picked up from where she left off with a 2788-1223 drilling of Nanami Aoyama.
Yukino Yukinoshita romped past Azusa Nakano 2368-1366, Shouko Nishimiya defeated Aqua 1993-1553, Emilia crushed Umaru Doma 2149-1535, Hina Amano defeated Nezuko Kamado 1920-1737, Schwi Dola got past Haruno Yukinoshita 1996-1542, Tamako Kitashirakawa won the closest race of the round, a 1736-1726 nailbiter over Zero Two, Megumin exploded past Sora Kasugano 1872-1605 and Kurumi Tokisaki shot down Kamui Kanna 2921-1299.
Wrapping up Female Division action, Chika Fujiwara clocked Shouko Makinohara 2311-1336, Rikka Takanashi defeated Meiko Honma 2167-1507, Kuroko Shirai prevailed over Illyasviel von Einzbern 2091-1662, Kurisu Makise pummeled Gray 1950-1350, Ruiko Saten defeated Saber 1951-1739, Mitsuha Miyamizu won a 1778-1745 thriller over Chino Kafuu and Mikoto Misaka throttled Yui Hirasawa 2588-1329.
In the Male Division, Kiyotaka Ayanokouji cruised past Joseph Joestar 2104-1270, Subaru Natsuki eased past Zen'itsu Agatsuma 2120-1285, Tanjiro Kamado flew past Yato 1751-1574, Shirou Emiya defeated Yuzuru Otonashi 1788-1533, Kiritsugu Emiya slammed Ainz Ooal Gown 1744-1436, Kusuo Saiki prevailed over Merlin 1731-1300, Giyuu Tomioka outworked Naruto Uzumaki 1633-1541 and Miyuki Shirogane stormed past Shidou Itsuka 2321-1237.
Taki Tachibana crushed Nishikata 2233-1182, Sorata Kanda drubbed Karma Akabane 1796-1471, Saitama punched Isaac Foster 1909-1338, Conan Edogawa rolled past Monkey D. Luffy 1951-1349, Edward Elric defeated Willem Kmetsch 1650-1451, Eren Yeager impaled Lancer 1757-1590, Ryuuji Takasu won a 1585-1568 barnburner over Kousei Arima and Yuu Ishigami thumped Shouya Ishida 2318-1246.
Riku Dola rocked Gintoki Sakata 2029-1309, Yuuta Togashi whipped past Kingu (Enkidu) 2096-1113, Yuu Otosaka clubbed Hodaka Morishima 1835-1275, Archer smoked Nagisa Shiota 1750-1639, Eugeo slashed past Osamu Dazai 1791-1417, Lelouch Lamperouge slayed Satoshi Fukube 1859, Kaito Kuroba prevailed over Sasuke Uchiha 1614-1583 and Touma Kamijou broke Ken Kaneki 2067-1414.
Wrapping up Male Division play, Levi leveled Dio Brando 2306-1147, Rintarou Okabe blew past Kyon 1614-1445, Saika Totsuka defeated Masamune Izumi 1767-1404, Tomoya Okazaki overran Ryuunosuke Akasaka 1752-1415, Itachi Uchiha defeated Haruka Kasugano 1656-1532, Kazuma Satou routed Waver Velvet 1971-1338, Gilgamesh impaled Joutarou Kuujou 1886-1434 and in the Upset of the Round, Takashi Natsume scalped Sakuta Azusagawa 2279-1698.
All signs point to a Kaguya Party final for the Spring Diadem after Kei Shirogane hammered Kokkoro 2107-1494 and Miko Iino defeated Kyaru 1917-1547. Shirogane, Miyuki's sister, is projected to win the Diadem by at least 500 votes with over 4000 votes cast. In other Spring Diadem action, Catarina Claes thumped Ruri Ichigyo 1791-1158, Pecorine slaughtered Arisa Ichigaya 1929-1049, Hinata Hyuuga prevailed over Yukina Minato 1594-1449 and Maria Campbell defeated Jashin-chan 1574-1360. Finally, in exhibition action, Asuka Langley Soryuu defeated Setsuna Ogiso 1628-1385 and Raphtalia destroyed Emma 1854-1272.
Match Day 2 of the 2020 International Saimoe League Topaz Period is scheduled for 10 September 2020. Vote for your favorite characters at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.